Epilogue - Harlon
ONE YEAR LATER
The snow falls just like it did a year ago—coating the town in a thick blanket of white.
Driving through the main road, Piper's already bouncing in her seat, pointing out the window like a kid on Christmas morning.
"There's the general store! And the Skyline—oh my god, they have even more lights this year." She presses her face to the glass. "Harlon, it’s so pretty."
Pretty doesn't begin to cover it, I think as I pull the truck into the parking lot of the Snowcap Inn.
This time last year, I was a wreck. I was terrified of what I felt for Piper Cross, of what it meant, and of all the ways loving her could blow up my life.
Now she is my life, and I can't imagine her not being a part of it.
I kill the engine and she's out before I can come around to help her, spinning in the snow with her arms out, laughing. Her dark hair catches the light from the lampposts, and I have to take a second just to watch.
This woman is all mine.
"Come on, sexy," she calls, grinning at me. "Let's check in."
The same proprietor is at the desk, gray-eyed and scowling. His eyes narrow when he sees us.
"You two again," he grunts.
Piper lights up. "You remember us!"
"Hard to forget. Young couple, looked half-frozen, couldn't stop staring at each other." He pushes the registry across the counter. "Same room?"
"If it's available," I say, signing us in.
"It's available." He takes my card, processing it with a simple tap. "Try to keep it down this time."
Piper's cheeks go pink, and I bite back a smile. "We'll do our best."
He hands me the key. "Second floor. End of the hall. You know the way."
We do. And as we climb those stairs, Piper's hand in mine, I'm hit with a sense of déjà vu mixed with wonder.
Last time, I could barely let myself touch her. Now I couldn’t stop even if I tried.
The room looks exactly the same—wood paneling, huge bed, window showing nothing but the white expanse outside. Piper drops her bag and immediately goes to the glass.
"I can't believe we're back," she whispers.
I move behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist. "Believe it."
She leans into me, sighing happily.
This year has been...Christ, it's been everything.
Piper moved to Wyoming in February, set up her workspace in my cabin, and just..
. bloomed. Her apps took off, especially that emergency shelter locator she built after our experience.
Park services across five states are using it now.
She gets emails from grateful hikers every week.
And she's happy. I know this because she tells me everyday—with smiles in the morning, notes in my pack, mind-blowing kisses when I get home, and sometimes even x-rated texts while I’m trudging up a mountainside.
She’s one in a million, my girl.
We decide to walk into town, hand in hand.
Hope Peak is even more festive than last year. Every storefront sparkles with lights, garland drapes from lamppost to lamppost, and Christmas trees are everywhere.
"This place is magical," Piper breathes, squeezing my hand. "I'm so glad we came back."
We push through the door of the general store, and she makes a beeline for the food section. I follow, watching her fill a basket with cheese, fruit, and the same kind of summer sausage we had last time.
"For old time’s sake." She holds up a box of crackers, grinning. "Better than any five-star meal."
I take the basket from her. “Best dinner I ever had.” I pull her close, not caring that we're in the middle of the store. “But then every meal with you is the best one.”
"God, you've gotten sappy,” she replies, but she’s smiling, and raises up on her toes so I’ll lean down to kiss her.
“Wonder why…” I murmur against her lips.
She pulls back, studying my face. "You okay? You seem more…restless than usual."
Shit. And I thought I was hiding my nerves well.
"I'm good." I force myself to relax. "Just thinking about tomorrow."
And the ring I plan to put on her finger as soon as I find the perfect moment to propose.
Her expression brightens. "Your parents are going to love the gift we got them. And Jayce texted that he and Tanya are driving up tonight—they should already be at Kade and Nia's by now." She pauses, biting her lip. "You're sure this won't be weird?"
"Not weird at all." Jayce called me last month, told me he was bringing someone he met in Quantico that he was serious about, and asked if Piper and I would be okay with it.
The fact that he asked—that he cared—meant everything.
"He's happy for us. Has been from the start.
So we should give him the same support."
She nods as we head to checkout. “I’ve said it before. You’re a great brother, Harlon.”
I smile as we pay and head back out into the snow.
It's coming down heavier now, big fat flakes that stick to Piper's hair like she's wearing diamonds. She catches one on her tongue, and I have to kiss her right there in the middle of the sidewalk.
"What was that for?" she asks when I finally let her up for air.
"Just grateful." I brush snow from her hair. "For you. For this."
She grins and takes my hand. "Come on. I'm freezing, and we have a feast to eat."
But we barely make it through the door.
Piper's climbing me the second it closes, her hands in my coat, my hair, her mouth hot and eager against mine.
"I've been thinking about this all day," she gasps between kisses. "Being back here with you."
I carry her backward toward the bed, peeling off her coat and sweater, revealing her soft skin I still can’t get enough of even after a year. "Have you now?"
"Mmhmm." She yanks at my shirt. "Stop talking and get naked, Ranger Giles."
I laugh—surprised that she can still crack me up—and strip off my shirt. Her hands immediately go to my chest, tracing the muscles.
"I love your body," she murmurs, fingers exploring. "Every part of you."
"Even the grumpy parts?"
"Especially those." She pushes me onto the bed and straddles my hips. "Although you're a lot less grumpy these days."
“All your fault.” I slide my hands up her sides, thumbs brushing the underside of her breasts through her bra. She arches into the touch, and I go ravenous. "Piper—"
"I need you, too." She reaches back, unhooking her bra and tossing it aside.
We know each other now. I know exactly the kind of touch that makes her gasp and moan. And she knows just where to stroke, to tease, to drive me out of my mind.
She's confident on top of me, taking what she wants, and the sight of her riding me with her head thrown back, breasts bouncing, is enough to make me come ten times over.
"Look at me," I rasp, and her eyes zero in on mine, dark and dilated.
"Harlon—"
"I've got you, sweetheart." I grip her hips and ass, helping her move. "Take my cock like a good baby girl."
That has her climaxing in seconds with my name on her lips.
I follow her over, my release hitting so hard I nearly pull a muscle.
Afterward, we lie tangled in a heap.
She laughs contentedly and I want to stay in this bed with her forever, just the two of us.
But eventually we get up, pulling on the Inn's plush robes, spreading our haul from the general store in front of us.
Piper pops a grape in her mouth, then puts one in mine.
I hand her a cracker with cheese.
We eat and talk, and she tells me about the new app she's working on—something about trail conditions and wildlife sightings. I just listen, thrilled to be able to be part of her world.
"How's the park looking this season?" she asks.
"Busy. Tourist season never really ends anymore." I pull her closer. "But I don't mind. Means I get to come home to you every night."
She snuggles into me, yawning. "Best part of my day is when you walk through that door."
Outside, snow continues to fall, and I hold her as her breathing evens out, drifting to sleep safe and warm in my arms.
The nerves hit around 3 a.m. and don't let up.
What if she says no? What if it's too soon? What if she wants to wait?
Except I know Piper. Know the way she looks at me, the way she talks about our future like it's a foregone conclusion. She wants this as much as I do.
Still. I’m a mess.
By the time pale light creeps through the window, I'm wide awake, watching her sleep. She's beautiful like this—relaxed, peaceful, her hair across the pillow.
Mine. Forever, if she'll have me.
She stirs, eyes fluttering open. "Morning."
"Morning." I brush hair from her face. "Sleep okay?"
"Mm-hm. You?"
"Great," I lie.
If she knows I’m lying she doesn't call me on it. Instead, she stretches, the robe falling open just enough to show me a hint of creamy bare skin to be distracting. "Coffee?"
I press my lips together. "Yeah, let's get dressed."
We pull on clothes and head downstairs. The Inn's breakfast setup is modest but delicious—fresh coffee, pastries, fruit. We load up and Piper suggests what I was hoping she would.
"Can we sit on the porch? I want to watch the snow."
I think…this is it.
We bundle up and step outside. The porch is quiet, peaceful, the town just waking up. Snow falls in gentle curtains, and the morning light makes everything glow.
I'm going to do this. Right now.
We sit close together on the bench, and Piper immediately tucks herself against my side.
"I'm so excited for tomorrow," she says. "Seeing everyone at Kade and Nia's new house. Even Jayce with Tanya—I can't wait to meet her. And see your parents!" She grins. "I still can't believe Kade transferred to Deepwood Mountain."
I smile at that. Kade moving to Deepwood, as a deputy with the Sheriff's Office—none of us saw that coming. But Nia changed everything for him, the same way Piper changed everything for me.
"Piper."
She stops, looking up at me. "Yeah?"
My heart is thundering so hard I'm surprised she can't hear it…or even see it beating through my clothes. "A year ago, we were sitting upstairs in that room. Neither of us knowing what the hell we were doing."
She blinks up at me.
“You rearranged my world.” The words come easier now. "Every morning I wake up grateful that you chose this life. Wyoming, me…us." I have to pause, swallow past the tightness in my throat. "You fit into my life like you were always meant to be there. Like you were the missing piece."
I pull the ring box from my pocket, and her eyes go wide.
"I want every Christmas morning for the rest of my life to be like this.
With you." I open the box, revealing the ring I spent way too many months picking out—a simple platinum band with a small emerald flanked by two topaz gems. It reminds me of the forest, the mountains, of her. "Piper, will you marry me?"
She's crying now, one hand over her mouth. "Yes!" The word comes out in a half-laugh, half-sob. "Yes, of course, yes—"
I barely get the ring on her finger before she's kissing me, tears and laughter and joy all mixing together.
"I love you so much," she whispers. "I love waking up in Wyoming with you, how you encourage me to build my own path every day." She has to stop, overcome with emotion.
I kiss her forehead and her cheeks, tasting like salt. “I love you, baby girl."
She looks at the ring, then at me, then at the snowy town around us. "I can't believe this.”
I pull her close. "You're stuck with me forever now."
Her laugh is watery, but bright. "Best thing that ever happened to me."
We stay on that porch despite the cold, unwilling to go inside just yet. Piper keeps looking at the ring, grinning like she can't help it.
She snuggles closer. "Tomorrow's going to be amazing. Our first Christmas as an engaged couple."
She tilts her face up, and I kiss her properly—deeply and slowly and full of everything I have to give her.
"Merry Christmas, Harlon," Piper whispers, once we break apart.
"Merry Christmas, Piper. The first of many."